NZ276078A

NZ276078A - Potato digger; separator to separate potatoes from earth

Info

Publication number: NZ276078A
Application number: NZ276078A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Klemens Kalverkamp; Richard Tepe
Original assignee: Grimme Landmaschf Franz
Priority date: 1993-11-25
Filing date: 1994-11-09
Publication date: 1997-06-24
Also published as: DK0730399T3; US5775435A; EP0730399B1; WO1995014370A1; NO962139D0; DE4340101A1; NO302851B1; CA2175895A1; AU8141194A; CA2175895C; AU685874B2; EP0730399A1; DE59403483D1; NO962139L

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> New Zealand No. 276078 International No. PCT/EP94/03682 TO BE ENTERED AFTER ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION Priority dates: 25.11.1993; Complete Specification Filed: 09.11.1994 Classification:^) A01D33/08; A01D17/06; B07B1/15 Publication date: 24 June 1997 Journal No.: 1417 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Title of Invention: Device for separating potatoes from other materials Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form: FRANZ GRIMME LANDMASCHINENFABRIK GmbH & CO. KG, a German company of Wiesenstrasse 10, D-49401 Damme,Federal Republic of Germany New Zealand No. 276078 International No. PCT/EP94/03682 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Title of Invention: Device for separating potatoes from other materials Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form: FRANZ GRIMME LANDMASCHINENFABRIK GmbH & CO. KG, a German company of Wiesenstrabe 10, D-49401 Damme, Germany 2^078 APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING POTATOES FROM OTHER MATERIALS The invention relates to an apparatus for separating potatoes from other materials in a construction of the introductory portion of claim 1. In the case of a known apparatus of this type (FR-A-1 228 425), all roller bodies are constructed cylindrically. They separate potatoes from other materials, such as soil, clods, stones, herbage, etc., in the region of the working gap between roller bodies, which are rotating in opposite directions and which exert a uniform conveying thrust on the potatoes during each revolution. It is an object of the invention to develop an apparatus of the type mentioned in the introductory portion of claim 1, which can be implemented with little technical effort and makes an optimum separation process possible even in the case of different mixtures of potatoes and other materials. Pursuant to the invention, this objective is accomplished by an apparatus with the distinguishing features of claim 1 for separating potatoes from other materials. With respect to important further refinements, reference is made to claims 2 to 26. With the apparatus constructed pursuant to the invention, a structural unit is constructed with little technical effort, the roller bodies of which are mounted stably and at the side, which is extremely resistant to breakdowns and which separates the potatoes from other materials with short contact times in such a manner, that damage or quality impairment is avoided. The separating segment, moreover, can be adapted with little effort to different separating tasks. The aggressiveness of the separating effect can be adjusted by changing the distance between the roller bodies as well as by changing the relative height of the separating rollers. ^ / 1 ,5li!AYwse ?; The particular cross-sectional shape of the in each case first roller body of each group imparts an intermittently intensified conveying thrust to the potatoes, through which the separating effect is intensified and the throughput increased. At the same time, different amounts of other materials are taken hold of reliably, while the potatoes are subjected to a gentle conveying impetus. At the same time, the potatoes are moved from the respective charging end to the discharging end without additional aid. Further details and advantages arise out of the following specification and the drawing, which illustrates diagrammatically several examples of an inventive apparatus for separating potatoes from other materials. In the drawing, Figure 1 shows a side view of the inventive apparatus in a first embodiment, \ Figure 2 shows a side view of an apparatus similar to that of Figure 1 in a second embodiment with an arrangement of roller bodies forming an offset, Figure 3 shows a side view of the apparatus, similar to that of Figure 2, in a tilted position, Figure 4 shows a front view of the apparatus in the region of the potato-discharging end, Figure 5 shows an enlarged sectional representation of the apparatus to illustrate a first embodiment of an adjusting device, Figure 6 shows a sectional representation to illustrate a second embodiment of the adjusting device, v v , 'ttMAY 1996 Figure 7 shows a plan view of the representation of Figure 6, * Figure 8 shows a sectional representation to illustrate a third embodiment of the adjusting device, Figure 9 shows a plan view of the representation of Figure 8, Figure 10 shows a sectional representation to illustrate a fourth embodiment of the adjusting device, Figure 11 shows a plan view of the representation of Figure 10, Figure 12 shows an enlarged detailed representation of a roller body in a side view, Figure 13 shows a side view similar to that of Figure 12 with projections of a different profile at the casing surface of the roller body, Figure 14 shows a section through one of the segments forming a roller body and Figure 15 shows an enlarged sectional representation in the region of the working gap of a group of roller bodies. In Figure 1, a first embodiment of an apparatus is shown, which is labeled 1 as a whole and provided, for example, at a potato harvesting (not shown) and which, in the operating position shown, is provided in the region of a charging end 2 by means of a conveyor belt 3 with a mixture of potatoes 4 and other materials 5, such as soil, stones and herbage. In an advantageous development, the apparatus 1 has a number of roller bodies 7, 7', 8, 8', which are driven in opposite directions in pairs and are aligned at right angles (Figure 4) to a separating segment 11. The roller body 7, 7', which is the first in the direction of the separating segment 11 to the potato-discharging end 6, and the respective second roller body 8, 8' of each pair from an interacting group. Moreover, the second roller body 8, 8' of each group, together with the first roller body 7 of the subsequent, adjacent group, in each case is supported with a movable supporting structure 12, which is engaged in each case, under the action of a spring 13, by a correcting element 15 supported at an apparatus frame 14. A second embodiment of the inventive apparatus 1' is illustrated in Figure 2. In the region of the separating segment 11, this embodiment is divided into two partial regions 17,18 with a shoulder 19, which forms a conveying region with an additional loosening action for the mixture 4, 5 between the charging end 2 and the potato-discharging end 6. In Figure 3, the apparatus 1' is shown in a tilted position, in which the separating segment 11 has been shifted out of the horizontal working position (Figures 1 and 2) by an angle of tilt 21 in such a manner, that it shows a slope from the charging end 2 to the potato.-discharging end 6. With this possibility for tilting, the separating segment 11 can be positioned with little effort by an adjustment about a tilt axis 20 in the region of the first roller body T in such a manner that, in the case of different soil structures or different other materials, infinitely variable regulation of the throughput of the apparatus can be achieved. It is likewise conceivable to construct the apparatus 1 of Figure 1 with an axis of tilt 20 in the region of the roller body 7*. The constructions of Figures 1 and 2 permit the working distances between the axes of the roller bodies 7, 7', 8, 8' within each group to be adjusted by 4 •' Vi means of the supporting structures 12 and the correcting elements 15. Starting out from the stationary roller body T in the separating segment 11, the subsequent rollers 8, 7 are combined over a supporting structure 12 into an adjustment group and can be adjusted jointly. At the same time, the supporting structure 12' is connected in the separating segment 11 only with the last roller body 8'. For this purpose, the supporting structures 12 are supported groupwise in the region of a respective elongated hole 22 over a guide bolt 23 in such a manner at the correcting element 15 assigned to them, that a simultaneous adjustment of the distances between the supporting structures 12, belonging to the group, and, with that, of the roller bodies 7, 8, supported by these, can be achieved. The correcting elements 15 can be actuated in each case by means of drive mechanisms 25, which are shown only diagrammatically and which engage, on the one hand, connecting parts 24 at the adjusting levers 15 and, on the other, a stationary support 26. By tilting the correcting elements 15, working distances of equal size are formed between the roller bodies 7, 7', 8, 8' along the groups, which are shifted along the guide rails 16 of the apparatus frame 14 towards the potato-discharging end 6. The identity of the change in the working distances when moving the correcting element 15 is attained by a constant ratio of the height distances of the respective guide bolts 33 of a respective group of supporting structures 12. For implementing the displacement motion, the supporting structures 12 are provided with rollers 10, which are supported in guide rails 16 (Figure 4). The axle pins 9 of the rollers 10 engage the springs 13 which, in opposition to their action, permit an increase in the axial distance, when this is brought about by means of the correcting elements 15, or when such an increase is caused by a thick stone 5 passing through a roller gap. Because of the elongated holes 22, the displaceability of the supporting structures 12 along the guide rails 16 is independent of the position of the correcting elements. 15. Figure 5 shows a modified support for the roller bodies in an enlarged, sectional representation of two groups of roller bodies 7, 8. In the case of this modification, the roller bodies are carried by supporting structures 12, which consist of a stationary connecting link 29 for the first roller body 7 and a swiveling element 33, which can be swiveled about a pivot pin 30 and on which the respective second roller body 8 is mounted. The correcting element 15, which is constructed as a sliding part, supports individual spring 13, which in each case engage a swiveling element 33. In the region of the connection with the correcting element 15, the swiveling elements 33 have an elongated hole 27, which is engaged by a guide pin 28 of the correcting element 15. At the same time, the swiveling element 33 is pulled by the spring 13 into the specified working position. With this arrangement, a large stone 5 or similar other material, which is drawn into the working gap 34 between the roller bodies 7, 8 revolving in opposite directions indicated by the arrows 31, 32, can shift the second roller body 8 in a swiveling direction 35 in such a manner, that the large stone is eliminated downwards from the apparatus without damaging it. In the embodiment of Figure 5, the axles of the respective first roller body 7 are supported at a distance A in the vertical direction, as a result of which the junction plane of the separating segment 11 attains at least regionally a shoulder, similar to the shoulder of Figure 2 or the slope of Figure 3. Moreover, because of the distance A, the roller body 8 can be swiveled unhindered in the direction of arrow 35 and there is a gap S to the next group of roller bodies, which ensures a trouble-free revolution of the components in all operating positions. In Figures 6 and 7, a second embodiment of the possibilities for making adjustments in the area of the roller bodies 7, 8 is shown, the elongated holes 27, 6 . " 'v <■1' < ' "■ lo?^yi99ti *v through which the guide bolts 28 of the correcting element 15 pass, and the springs 13 being disposed in one plane. Moreover, the connecting links 29 at 30' are hinged to a further correcting element 36 below the roller bodies 7,8. The working gap 34 between the two roller bodies 7, 8 can be adjusted here also under the action of a displacement force 37 acting against the tensile force of the spring 13. Moreover, as a stone 5 or other material of similar size passing through the working gap 34, the spring 13 acts as a safety element. Furthermore, the correcting element 36 determines whether the connecting element 29 can be swiveled about or fixed to the axis of die first roller body 7 of the group so that, in connection with an adjustment of the correcting element 15, the height of the second roller body 8 with respect to its first roller body 7 in the group can be adjusted, in order to influence the aggressiveness of the separating process. In Figures 8 and 9, a third embodiment of the adjusting apparatus is shown in the area of a group of roller bodies 7, 8, for which the correcting element 15 is disposed below the separating segment 11 formed by the roller bodies 7, 8. The supporting structure 12, which is formed here by only one swiveling element 33, is supported in each case so that it can pivot about the axis of the roller body 8 of a subsequent group immediately following in the direction of conveying and thus, when the correcting element 15 is moved in the direction of arrow 38, enables the working gap between the roller bodies 7, 8 within a group to be adjusted. Here also, the springs 13 assume the functions already described. A further embodiment of the adjusting apparatus of respective groups of roller bodies 7, 8 is illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. For this embodiment, the connecting link 29' is connected with a coupling element 40 supporting the correcting > . o 7 l <r ■ '■ \ 15 jtfAY 7998 v'' element 15 together with its driving mechanism 39. Several connecting links 29', which are disposed behind one another, can be swiveled together. When the coupling element 40 is moved in the direction of arrow 41 by means of a drive mechanism 39', the roller bodies 8 of the group in the working position shown are swiveled concentrically about the first roller body 7 of the group, so that the roller bodies 8, while retaining the constant working gap 34, assume an elevated position with respect to the first roller body 7. When a stone or a similar hard object penetrates into the working gap 34, as described above, the respectively second roller body 8 of a group can be swiveled with its swiveling element 33 against the action of a spring 13 into a position enlarging the working gap 34 and, after the stone is ejected, returned into the working position. In Figure 12, an embodiment of the first roller body 7, T is illustrated in an enlarged detailed representation, for which the roller body in each case has an elrstically deformable casing part 41. At the periphery 42 of the roller body 7, 7', several parts 44, projecting over the contour of the cylindrical jacket part 41, are provided and constructed as conveying lips 43. In the case of the roller bodies 7, T of Figures 12 and 13, in each case three conveying lips 43, offset by 120°, are integrally molded to the periphery 42 of the casing part 41 and disposed tangentiaily to the casing part 41. The conveying lips 43 of Figure 13 have a rebounding region 45, with which the separating and conveying action of the roller bodies 7, 7' in the installed position /Figure 15) can be intensified. The casing part 41 of the respective roller body 7, T of Figures 12 and 13 is connected over several elastic supporting spokes 47 with an inner hub 48. With that, in each case a deformation chamber 49 is formed in the circumferential direction of the roller body 7, T between the supporting spokes 47 and appropriate constructions of the conveying lips 43 are assigned to the region of the deformation chambers 49 of the casing part 41. The supporting spokes 47 are constructed in one piece with the hub 48 and protrude approximately tangentially from the latter, so that, upon deformation of the casing surface 41 during the separation process, the supporting spokes 47 are deformed in a specified direction. The roller bodies 7, 8 are supported on a polygonal shaft (not shown) surrounded by a hexagonal recess 50, the roller bodies 7, T preferably being formed by roller body sections 51 (Figure 14) lined up on the polygonal shaft. With that, the installation of the roller bodies 7, 7', as well as a rapid exchange for repair purposes, are possible. In Figure 15, an enlarged sectional representation in the region of a group of roller bodies 7, 8 illustrates the geometric relationships in the region of the working gap 34 as well as in the region of the gap S between the groups. It becomes clear that the roller body 7, 7', which is the first in the direction 53 of the separation segment 11, carries out, in the region of its upper side formed by the casing surface 41, a revolving motion 31, which is directed towards the potato-discharging end 6 and that, during each revolution, an intensified conveying thrust is imparted with each conveying lip to the potatoes in the crotch 54 between the roller bodies 7, 8. The elastic conveying lips 43 act as an additional conveying element in such a manner that, upon entering the region of the crotch 54, they bring about a narrowing of the inlet angle 55 and, over their spring action, exert the intended conveying impetus on the potatoes in the conveying direction 53. The other materials 4, 5 are jammed in the region of the crotch 54 by the narrowing of the inlet angle 55 and discharge downward through the working gap 34. The effectiveness of the conveying lips 43 can be maintained particularly owing to the fact that a stripper 56, which acts on the roller bodies 8, is provided in at least regions of the revolving area of the respective roller bodies 8. In 9 . . f - '"AY 1335 an appropriate construction, the stripper 56 is constructed as a profiled body 57, which is disposed below the second roller body 8 and protrudes into the path of motion of the conveying lips 43. In the embodiments of the apparatus 1, 1described above, at least one material guide, generally labeled 58, is disposed above the roller bodies 7, 8 forming the separation segment 11. This material guide can be constructed according to Figure 5 as a pendant guideway 59, according to Figure 6 as a rubber plate 60, according to Figure 8 as a round cord 61 and, according to Figures 10 and 15, as a rubber brush 62. The enlarged representation of Figure 15 makes clear the construction of the second roller body 8 of the respective group. In the area of its casing part 41', this second roller body 8 can be provided with a uniform layer of elastomer, which interacts in the area of the working gap 34 with the softer, first roller body 7. It is, however, also possible to construct the second roller bodies 8 as non-yielding parts or to give them a development corresponding to that of the first roller bodies 7, 7'. The size of the working gap 34 depends on the desired separating result and on the relationships of the other materials. If the roller casings 41, 41' are sufficiently soft, the possibility also exists of permitting the two roller bodies of each group to work in the basic position already in mutually deforming engagement. The aggressiveness during the separation process of the groups of roller bodies, 7, 7', 8, 8', which are rotating in opposite directions 31, 32, can be varied by adjusting the rpm individually for each roller body or in groups of several roller bodies so that, with little effort, adaptation to different separating tasks is attained. For example, by increasing the rpm of the second roller body 8, 8' with respect to that of the first roller body 7, T, the aggressiveness can be increased or, by a corresponding 10 ./ V r 1996 • decrease in the rpm of the second roller body 8, 8', the aggressiveness can be decreased. * C- 11 75* £Y 1536 </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> CLAIMS ■Z9609S

1. An apparatus for separating potatoes (4) from other materials (5) such as soil, clods, stones, herbage, etc, particularly for potato harvesting machines, with a number of roller bodies (7, 7', 8, 8'), which are disposed side by side with parallel axes, form revolving groups driven in pairs, each roller in a pair being driven in opposite directions and the rollers jointly extending over a separating segment (11; 17,18), which extends from a charging end (2) to a potato-discharging end (6) and to which the rollers are aligned substantially at right angles, characterised in that the roller body (7, 7') of each group, which is the first in the direction (53) of the separating segment (11; 17,18), has a cross sectional shape, which exerts an intensified conveying thrust at least once during each revolution on the potatoes in the crotch (54) between the roller bodies (7, 7', 8, 8') of the group.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, characterised in that roller body (7, 7') of each group, which is the first in the direction (53) of the separating segment (11; 17, 18), carries out in the region of its upper side (42) a rotational movement (31) directed towards the potato-discharging end (6).

3. The apparatus of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the separating segment (11; 17,18) can be adjusted between a horizontal working position and a working position inclined towards the potato-discharging end (6).

4. The apparatus of one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the separating segment (11) is divided in the direction of the potato-discharging end (6) into at least two partial regions (17,18), between which there is a shoulder (19). 11

5. The apparatus of one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second roller body (8, 8') of each group is supported on an arc of a circle about the axis of an adjacent first roller body (7, 7') and can be adjusted into different working positions.

6. The apparatus of one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the working distance between the axes of the roller bodies (7, 8) of each group is adjustable.

7. The apparatus of one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the working distance of the axis of the first roller body (7) of each group to the axis of the second roller body (8) of the respective preceding group in the separating segment (11) is adjustable.

8. The apparatus of one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the distances between roller bodies (7, 8) forming a group is jointly adjustable.

9. The apparatus of one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the distances between the axes of adjacent roller bodies (7, 8) can be changed flexibly between a set working dimension (34) and an enlarged safety dimension.

10. The apparatus of one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the second roller body (8, 8') of each group is mounted on a pivotably braced supporting structure (12), which is engaged in each case under spring tension by a correcting element (15), which is supported at the apparatus frame (14). ; :/,y -/oss 13

11. The apparatus of one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the supporting structure (12), in the region of the connection with the correcting element (15), has an elongated hole (27), which is engaged by a guide pin (28) of the t correcting element (15), and is connected with a spring element (13), which holds the supporting structure (12) in its working position specified by the guide pin (28).

12. The apparatus of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the supporting structure (12) is mounted pivotably on a connecting link (29), which is supported so that it can be swiveled about the axis of the first roller body (7,7') of each group.

13. The apparatus of one of the claims lOto 12, characterized in that the connecting links (29') are connected with a coupling element (40), which supports the correcting element (15) for the supporting structures (12) and through which the connecting links (29') can be swiveled jointly.

14. The apparatus of one of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the roller bodies (7, T 8,8') have an elastically deformable casing part (41; 41').

15. The apparatus of claim 14, characterized in that the first roller body (7) of each group is provided at the periphery (42) with at least one conveying lip (43), conveying rib or a similar projecting part (44), which protrudes over the contour of the cylindrical casing part (41).

16. The apparatus of one of the claims 14 or 15, characterized in that three conveying lips (43), offset by 120°, are disposed on the periphery of the casing part (41). 14 f 15 MAY I338

17. The apparatus of one of the claims 14 or 16, characterized in that the conveying lips (43) in each case run tangentially into the casing part (41).

18. The apparatus of one of the claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the conveying lips (43) have a region (45) rebounding in the revolving direction (31) of the roller body (7, 7'). 1?.

The apparatus of one of the claims 14 to 18, characterized in that the casing part (41) of the first and/or second roller body (7, 8) of each group is connected over elastic supporting spokes (47) with an inner hub (48).

20. The apparatus of claim 19, characterized in that a deformation chamber (49) is formed between the supporting spokes (47), and the conveying lips (43) are assigned in each case to the casing part (41) in the region of a deformation chamber (49).

21. The apparatus of claims 19 or 20, characterized in that the supporting spokes (47) are constructed in one piece with the hub (48) and protrude tangentially from the latter.

22. The apparatus of one of the claims 19 to 21, characterized in that the roller body (7, 7') comprises a polygonal shaft and roller body sections (51) lined up on this shaft.

23. The apparatus of one of the claims 1 to 22, characterized in that in each case at least one stripper (56) is provided in the region of the roller bodies (7, 7', 8, 8") of each group. 15

24. The apparatus of claim 23, characterized in that the stripper (56) is constructed as a profiled body (57), which is disposed below the second roller body (8, 8') and protrudes into the path of motion of the conveying lips (43).

25. The apparatus of one of the claims 1 to 24, characterized in that at least one material guide (58) is provided above the separating segment (11; 17, 18) formed by the roller bodies (7, T, 8,8').

26. The apparatus of one of the claims 1 to 25, characterized in that the rpm of the roller bodies (7, 7', 8,8') can be adjusted individually and/or in each group. END OF CLAMS </div>